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Date:         Wed, 29 Sep 1999 16:30:48 EDT
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From: Jim Diamond <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      French resist US agricultural trade policy
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With apologies for duplicate postings --
  if you've seen this from Mike Dolan (TW-list) or on INTERNATIONAL FORUM,
hit delete now.

The Times (UK)          September 24, 1999

FRENCH UNITE AGAINST U.S. TRADE DOMINATION

    From Charles Bremner in Paris

The frontline troops in a rising French revolt against American
trade practices mustered in central Paris last night, sending a warning
shot to Washington and their own Government.

Small farmers, leftwing politicians, union leaders and green
activists united in a show of force to demand a halt to what is
increasingly seen in France as an American-led drive to rob nations of
their livelihood and identity under the banner of free trade.

The grassroots movement springs from old-fashioned French
antipathy towards American methods, especially over food and
entertainment. Seen from Paris, the anger over "globalisation" has the
feel of a Luddite rural revolt at a time when the country is reaping the
fruits of growth and booming exports. However, the simmering
rebellion has caught the Government offguard and seems to be
gathering momentum as a political force two months ahead of talks
on a new world trade pact.

The spur was a series of protests by small farmers against outlets
of the McDonald's restaurant giant in late August. The farmers were
angry over American sanctions against French food imports, imposed
in retaliation for Europe's ban on US hormone-fed beef.

To popular acclaim, the farmers have been calling for a national
struggle against "le mal bouffe" (lousy grub), which they say is being
foisted on France by American industrial interests. Jose BovT, the
moustachioed hero of the peasant-farmers revolt, was the star at last
night's Paris rally to denounce the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
as a plot to "enslave political power permanently to the interests of
transnational business".

Le Figaro said that the rebellion was "not folklore" but was the
sign of growing determination by people to retain their sense of
identity and quality of life. "Faced with the tyranny of modernity, the
revolt invites the powerful to obey morality and good sense."

With public alarm growing over genetically modified crops and
American-led "globalisation" of trade and culture, Jacques Chirac, the
Gaullist President, and Lionel Jospin, the Socialist Prime Minister, are
competing with tough postures ahead of the WTO negotiations in
Seattle on November 30. M Jospin promised last week: "We will be
extremely firm in the defence of our national interests and those of
the European community. We will make sure that the WTO embraces
the new problems of food safety and the environment."

M Jospin's stance is in part a response to growing discontent in
his own leftwing camp over what is seen as his surrender to the
principles of the "Anglo-Saxon" free market.

Taking a tough line at the United Nations this week, M Jospin
warned Washington that markets should not rule untrammelled and
world trade must be regulated for the benefit of all states.

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